• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

TAM 9 Program

Tamazon said:
I still don't like it at all. The conference should be over at 5 or 6 leaving attendees to do what they like after. This is just really bad planning.
Click to expand...

You're free to leave any time - skip the panels, skip Neil and go see Cirque... no electronic monitoring or guards this year.
 
xinit said:
You're free to leave any time - skip the panels, skip Neil and go see Cirque... no electronic monitoring or guards this year.
Click to expand...

If it were a panel or something similar, I'm sure many people would skip it. We're talking about the Keynote and Dawkins- the speakers who would draw the most people- in the most inconvenient position.
 
Panels suffer when the moderators aren't active... and the panelists just tell the same stories we've all heard already.
 
The 8:00 p.m. continuations of the conference are certainly a divergence from past practice--NGT is such a high caliber speaker that there is no way I would miss it, but I can't understand why you would separate out your keynote address from the mainstream of the symposium. I noted that there were book signings going on at 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but as far as I can tell NGT does not have a new book out.
 
TsarBomba said:
The 8:00 p.m. continuations of the conference are certainly a divergence from past practice--NGT is such a high caliber speaker that there is no way I would miss it, but I can't understand why you would separate out your keynote address from the mainstream of the symposium.
Click to expand...

I know I've only been to one TAM in Vegas, but many of the arguments I've heard are along the lines of "CHANGE IS BAD!"

The schedule is a bit odd, and that evening is insanely packed, but I wouldn't be surprised if timings were set based to some extent on arrivals and availabilities. Don't worry, guys, there's plenty of time for Del Mar.

If I were going to the SGU dinner, I'd be concerned about not making it out in time to get back to see the keynote though... So I think it'll be deli and Del Mar for dinner that night.
 
I hope the 8PM time slot means we will get actual speeches from Tyson and Dawkins, not the interview style we got last year.
 
xinit said:
I know I've only been to one TAM in Vegas, but many of the arguments I've heard are along the lines of "CHANGE IS BAD!"
Click to expand...



The issue is not that "CHANGE IS BAD!", it's that this particular change is bad. It screws up a lot of other potential activities, while offering little or no apparent benefits.

Sort of like the opening reception last year.
 
Horatius said:
The issue is not that "CHANGE IS BAD!", it's that this particular change is bad. It screws up a lot of other potential activities, while offering little or no apparent benefits.

Sort of like the opening reception last year.
Click to expand...

To use corporate-speak, it does seem like they did not consult or consider the positions of their key stakeholders.
 
I think it's important to judge how well this worked out well before it happens.

I'm sure there were many factors that went into this decision, speaker availability among them. But that is neither here nor there: this is the schedule.

Since I am booked for Satiristas and Max Maven that happen just after, I am personally OK with this timing, but I am also fairly certain that was not taken into account in the decision making process.

You now know - well in advance - these details. Worried about restaurants being busy? Book now. Personally, I am renting a car so I can make efficient use of the dinner breaks if I so choose.

We are now informed. Plan accordingly.
 
It might have something to do with the fact that there is not enough time during the day for all the speakers.

Say, does anyone know where Penn's party will be held?

~~ Paul
 
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos said:
It might have something to do with the fact that there is not enough time during the day for all the speakers.
Click to expand...



But, as already noted, they're using 3 hours of Day 1 for panel discussions. One of which includes NdGT, so it's not that he won't be there earlier.

This wasn't scheduled this way in order to fit in all the speakers, or to match schedules, they chose to do it this way, for some reason.


skeptic555 said:
You now know - well in advance - these details. Worried about restaurants being busy? Book now. Personally, I am renting a car so I can make efficient use of the dinner breaks if I so choose.

We are now informed. Plan accordingly.
Click to expand...


Yes, we're "well-informed" that whoever is making these decisions doesn't give a crap about anything other than the "official" JREF events. Community building? Meeting people? Screw that, we're setting the schedule! Pay extra to rent a car so you can hurry through dinner if you don't like it.

It's the same stupidity that had them "shushing" the crowd during the opening reception last year, because we dared to try to talk to people while they were talking.

This is not an attitude I think we should be accepting of.
 
Horatius said:
But, as already noted, they're using 3 hours of Day 1 for panel discussions. One of which includes NdGT, so it's not that he won't be there earlier.

This wasn't scheduled this way in order to fit in all the speakers, or to match schedules, they chose to do it this way, for some reason.





Yes, we're "well-informed" that whoever is making these decisions doesn't give a crap about anything other than the "official" JREF events. Community building? Meeting people? Screw that, we're setting the schedule! Pay extra to rent a car so you can hurry through dinner if you don't like it.

It's the same stupidity that had them "shushing" the crowd during the opening reception last year, because we dared to try to talk to people while they were talking.

This is not an attitude I think we should be accepting of.
Click to expand...

Have you emailed DJ/JREF regarding your concerns?
 
Ziggy66 said:
I hope the 8PM time slot means we will get actual speeches from Tyson and Dawkins, not the interview style we got last year.
Click to expand...

The interview with Dawkins last year was his I idea as I understand it. And yeah, it was disappointing for a keynote. Tyson could read a phone book and he'd still be entertaining and informative!

Also, while the band at the reception was kind of a bummer (and that's not saying anything bad about the band itself) much of the reception, just like much of TAM takes place in the hall. It's gotten so that there are so many people that the receptions aren't as intimate as they used to be. But oh well... That's a good thing I guess. I had fun.
 
Panels were never my favorite parts of TAMs. But, I've come to accept them.

A good panel needs a good moderator. For example:

Jamy Ian Swiss might be an excellent magician, but he loves to hear himself talk too much, to be effective as a moderator.

On the other hand, Julia Galef seems to have been born to moderate panels. She is a key reason (but, I will admit, not the only reason) why NECSS has a good reputation for panels.

Last night, at the World Science Fair, there was a really excellent panel about dark matter and dark energy. Although it ran into overtime (which I did not mind, myself), it was otherwise excellently run. Everyone knew their stuff and their place. And, the moderator was a delightful character, but never dominant over the discussion. It was informative and action packed, at the same time. And, the A/V worked nearly flawlessly.

If TAM is going to have panels, they should be more like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom